Maldives itineraries

Malé on foot in a day

A day in the capital, one short ferry hop from the airport island, before or after the resort. Tuna being cut at the fish market, a 1656 coral-stone mosque, and a beach on the next island seven minutes away by ferry, all on foot.

A night on Maafushi

The way to see Maldivian water for a fraction of resort prices: a guesthouse island, with sandbank, nurse shark and dolphin trips by boat.

Reef, capital and surf island from Hulhumalé

Stay in Hulhumalé, the new town next to the airport, and give one day each to a snorkel boat, the capital and the surf island of Thulusdhoo. Three sides of the Maldives without a resort.

Festivals & seasons

• 1 — Dry-season peak
• 2 — Ramadan
• 3 — Kuda Eid (Eid al-Fitr)
• 3 — Surf season (Cokes and Chickens)
• 5 — Bodu Eid (Eid al-Adha)
• 6 — Southwest monsoon
• 7 — Independence Day
• 8 — Hanifaru Bay manta season
• 9 — Sea of Stars (bioluminescence)
• 11 — Victory Day and Republic Day
• 12 — Whale sharks all year
• 12 — Christmas and New Year peak

Souvenirs

• Thulhaadhoo lacquerware
• Thundu kunaa woven mats
• Maldive fish and rihaakuru
• Breadfruit chips and coconut oil
• Model dhoni boats
• Maafushi T-shirts and magnets
• Thulusdhoo Coca-Cola